Airplane instruction device



Dec. 1 1936. fioc w V 2,062,678 AIRPLANE INSTRUCTION DEVICE Filed Dec. 3,- 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1' 4 4? z? zz 3 A 28 120 7! 25 52,21 29 7 o Z5 y I? a flbtma s Dec. 1, 1936. o wE 2,062,678

AIRPLANE INSTRUCTION DEVICE Filed Dec. 3, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A, WM 951 M", Gum/nu s- I 1 M V-IQQK e. ROCKWELL 2,062,678

AIRPLANE INSTRUCTION DEVICE Filed Dec. :5, 19:50 4 Sheets-Sheet s Dec. 1, 1936. e. ROCKWELL AIRPLANE INSTRUCTION DEVICE Filed Dec. 3; 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I 7 314mm oz 5 {QM 95%, aumws Patented Dec, 1, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE 2,062,678 AIRPLANE msmncrron nnvr'cr. George Rockwell, Fanwood, N. 1. Application December a, 1930, sci-aim. .99.:

a claims. (01. 35-12) The invention relates to aircraft, and more particularly to devices for use in teaching the operation of aircraft.

An object of the invention is to provide a rotatable so that when used outdoors advantage can be taken of prevailing winds.

Another object of the invention is to provide a glider which is so constructed as to operate satisfactorily under the above stated artificial conditions. I

Other objects will be apparent from the following description and claims when considered with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form rangement Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modified form;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the glider;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the glider;

Fig. 6 is a top view of a part of the glider;

Fig.

Fig. 8 is a detail illustrating the cross wires;

Fig. 9 is a detail illustrating the universal mounting of the glider; r

Fig. 10 is a section on the line ||||0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detail illustrating the bumpers for the wings; and

Fig. 12 is a detail illustrating a 3-way valve.

In the following description and in the claims parts will be identified by specific names 'for convenience, but they are intended to be as' In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, practical commercial embodiments of the invention areshown, but as such illustrations are primarily for purposes of disclosure, it will be understood that the structures may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the arrangement illusof ar-' '7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5; V

-' trated comprises a glider 20 mounted upon a support 52, a shutter arrangement 2| for varying the wind and a blowing arrangement 22 for supplying the wind. These devices are mounted upon a framework indicated by 24 which is supported by a plurality of flanged wheels 25 riding on a track 23. If desired, a piece of canvas I20 or similar device may also be arranged on the ground to prevent blowing of dust.

Thewi'nd supplying arrangement 22 comprises an electric motor 21 driving a fan 26, as illustrated.

The shutter arrangement 2| comprises a .set

. of vertical shutters 3| pivoted to the framework 'of the device at 33. The free ends .of the shut-, tors are connected by a bar |3| which is driven by a connecting rod 32, which is connected to a rotating crank 30 mounted on a vertical shaft I30. The shaft I30 is driven by a suitable 'worn and gear arrangement indicated by 29 which in turn is driven: by 'a-flexi'ble shaft or other transmission device 28 connected to motor 21.

The horizontal shutters 34 are individually pivoted to the framework at' 35 and are connected together by a bar 36 which is driven by I connecting rod 31 connected to a crank 38. The crank 32 is driven by a suitable worm and gearing arrangement indicated by |38, which in turnzontal'shutters 34 and vertical shutters 3| may oscillate back and forth as the fan 26 rotates to vary the breeze and thereby to simulate the shifting of the wind which would take place in actual flight. Of course, if desired, the entire shutter arrangement 2| may be omitted. In fact, in some cases it is preferable to omit the shutter device 2| entirely, depending upon the natural eddies and wind variations obtained directly from the fan 26.

Referring now to'Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the aircraft shown is a glider and comprises a central frame 40 made up of structural members in accordance with modern aircraft practice. The wings are denoted by 4| and are connected to the frame 40 and are reinforced by suitable trusses or struts 44.

It will be noted that the dihedral angle of the wings 4| is approximately 4.

Pivoted to the wings 4| at 43are the ailerons I plates 50 and the horizontal stabilizer 45 is disp sed above the line of the wings 4|. The elevator is denoted by 46. and is pivoted to the frame at 41. The rudder is denoted by 48 and is pivoted at '49. A tail skid 5| is provided for iting the backward movement of the glider. It will be noted that a side web 14 is'provided between the structural members, as shown, to give stability to the mounted a member 55 which actually engages the the plane being'fr'ee to tip sideways and forward and backward in operation.

For adjusting the position 'of the member 55 with respect to the frame plate 54, adjusting screws 56 are provided having suitable lock nuts.

Screws 56 are threadedinto ears I56 struck out of guide plate I 54 to engage ears I55 secured to member 55. I

Other adjusting devices for balancing the glider about the shaft 53 may comprise a shiftable weight I6 slidable on a rod II. A suitable setscrew I2 is provided for clamping the weight I6 in proper position. If desired,,a suitable liquid level gauge 13 may be provided to givean indicationofwhen.

the glider is horizontal.

Another manner in which the glider may be balancedsfornoperators of different weight is by balancing devices above described may be used separately or in combination with any of the oth- For instance, the balancing may be obtained by shifting the seat 68 alone, or it may be obtained by shifting the glider with respect to the supporting shaft 53, or itmay be obtained by shifting the weight III.

The glider may be controlled in the usual way.

It has a control stick 65-which'1s *so connected to the ailerons 42 and to the elevator 46 that when pulled backwards the elevator is raised; when pushedfrontwards, the elevator is depressed; and when thrown sideways, the aileron on the side to which the stick is pushed will be raised, and the aileron on the other side will be lowered. Suitable steering foot pedals 66 may be provided connected to the rudder 48 in the usual way.

If desired, a sightingdevice 61 may be provided comprising cross wires 68 (Fig."8l-supported on a of telescoping rods 69 having an adjusting setscrew I69 by which the elevation of the cross wires 68'can be adjusted to meet the requirements of the particular operator. For this sight device an artificial horizon may be provided which may be in the form of a strand or wire I10 (Fig. 3).

- By this arrangement, if desired, the operator can For preventing the wings 41 from crashing against the ground if the glider should dip too far to either side, springb'umpers I4 (Fig; 11) may be provided. These bumpers are connected to the wings by ordinary hinge devices indicated 5 by 15 so that they may pivot at these points as they are flexed when they hit the ground.

It has been found that a commercial glider such as used for making actual flights is unsuitable for artificial use, as above described. It has 10 been found necessary, in order to make the glider respond properly to the controls, .tov shorten the wings 4| crosswise of the gliderand to naripw the 1 wings 4I lengthwise of the glider. 'Similarly, it

a has been found desirable to increase the width of 15 the ailerons 42 lengthwise of the glider considerably.

Also, it was necessary to enlarge the tail surface by enlarging the elevators 46 and it was also I necessary to enlarge the rudder 48. Furthermore, 20 it was found necessary to elevate the stabilizer 45 and elevator-46 considerably above the line of the wings 4 I. provide the'tail areas 58 and the stabilizing area 14 to assist in bringing. the glider back into the air stream. The wings H and ailerons 42 have also been made considerably thinner than might be used on a glider for actual flight.. 'In addition,

it was found desirable to make the sweep of the lower part of the frame 40 from stem to stern 30 more nearly straight so as to give more .clearance when the glider drops down so that the tail skid 5! can take the shockas the glider drops to'the ground T. n. V V

In addition, it was found necessary to- If desired, the entire arran ement-mar be mounted upon a pneumatic or hydraulic hoist. indicated by 60 in Fig. 3. In this case the cir icular'ntrack. 23 would be omitted since it is p cssible torotate the table 82 of the hoist or lift j about the cylinder 8!. that this lift will be similar to the hydraulic lift used for raising automobiles- It will be understood 40 In order to give an added sensation to the operator the control of the lift 8|!v may be connected to .the control stick 65 sothat when the 45 stick is pulled all the way back the lift will rise, W and when the stick is pushed all the way forward, the lift .will lower.

One way of accomplishing this result is to provide a three-way valve 83 (Fig. 12) having 50 a pipe 84 connected to the lower sideof the cylinder 8| of the lift 80. Another pipe 85 isthe exhaust pipe and the third pipe 86 is. connectedto a source of supp y of water or air under pressure. Thelever I83 of the valve is 55 connected by rod 81 to the stick 65. The arrangement may be such that in normal operation of'the glider the conditions of the valve 83 will not be changed. However, when the stick 65 is pulled all the way back, the supply 5 pipe 86 is connected to the pipe 84 which sup-. plies air or water under pressure to the bottom of the cylinder iiL'therebyraisingthe table 82 to the top. When it is desired to descend,- the stick 65 'is pushed forward all the way which 55 connects the exhaust pipe 85, to pipe 84 allowing the pressure in the cylinder 6| to be relieved, the table 82 descending by gravity.

In order to operate the above device, the

glider will be balanced. forthe weight of the 70 operator by any of themeans above described.

The fan 22 will be turned on either with or withoutthe shutters 2| (these being omitted in Fig. 3). The operator will then operate the control stick and the foot pedals 66 in the n same manner as he would operate an actual glider in flight and he will receive substantially the same sensations. If he desires, he may keep the glider on the level by keeping the cross wires 68 upon the artificial horizon H0. If' the glider starts to tip to one side or the other, the-operator can rectify such condition by moving the joy stick in the proper direction, and likewise, if theglider starts to take an ascending or descending direction such condition may be similarly controlled. Within limits, the direction of the glider in azimuth may be controlled by the foot pedals 66.

The above arrangement has obviously many advantages. It is very useful as an instruction device for teaching students to fly. It helps to coordinate the various movements which are necessary to fly an actual glider or airplane. Thearrangement is also useful as an amusement device by which laymen may indulge in an enjoyable sensation of actual flight at small cost and with absolutely no danger since the arrangement is always supported. by the ground.

While certain novel features of the invention have been shown'and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be .made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:'

1. In a device of the character described,,a glider comprising a body having means for controlling said glider, means for universally mounting said glider on a support, a substantially vertical stabilizing web on said body, a source of wind external to said glider, whereby said web assists in holding the glider in the wind stream.

2. A glider for the purpose specified comprising an open framework body, wings, ailerons, stabilizer, elevator and rudder, and a stabilizing web on said body between front and rear.

3. A glider for the purpose specified comprising a body, wings extending laterally from said body, ailerons pivoted to the rear of the wings, a stabilizer at the rear of said body, an elevator pivoted to the stabilizer, a rudder, and a stabilizing web on the body between said wings and rudder, said stabilizer and elevator being :aised above the line of the wings. said wings being smaller, both across the plane and 1on1 thwise the plane, said ailerons being smaller across the plane but larger lengthwise the plane, said elevator and rudder also being larger, than a corresponding glider suitable for actual flight.

4. In an arrangement of the character described, a ground aircraft trainer comprising a body having wings, ailerons, a seat forward and below said wings, controls at said seat, a stabilizer, an elevator, a rudder, a base support adapted to rest on a flat surface, a universal connection between said body and support near the center of gravity of the glider, and means for balancing said glider about said universal connection for operators of different weight.

5. In combination, a lift, an aircraft on said lift, and connections between the control element of the aircraft and the lift to cause said lift to rise and lower at the will of the operator.

6. In combination, a lift, an airplane universally mounted on said lift, a fan for supplying an air stream to said airplane also on said lift, and connections between the control stick' and the lift to cause said'lift to rise when the stick is pulled .all the way back, and to lower when the stick is pushed all the way forward.

'7. In an outdoor aicraft arrangement for simulating actual flight, a circular track supported on the ground, a framework bridging said track, an air fan on said framework for creating an air stream, an aircraft also 'on said framework universally mounted thereon. to receive the stream of air, whereby the person operating said aircraft will receive sensations of actual flight, said frame being rotatable on said .track to take advantage of natural atmospheric winds.

8. In an outdoor aircraift arrangement for simulating actual flight, a framework, an air fan on said framework for creating an air stream, an aircraft also on said framework universally mounted thereon to receive the stream of air, whereby the person operating said aircraft will receive sensations of actual flight, and means for rotating said framework to take advantage of natural atmospheric winds.

, GEORGE ROCKWELL. 

